Most people immediately think of ribs, brisket and pulled pork when they hear about Bludso's Bar & Que, the second, more dressed up location of the Compton BBQ spot. But you'd be missing out if you didn't order the Julep on Tap here, made with Evan Williams bourbon, mint, sugar and bitters. Just because it's pre-made, though, doesn't mean they mess around with presentation. A mound of crushed ice and a fresh sprig of mint still tops off the traditional silver mug.
Few cocktails are so tightly linked to a particular event than the mint julep is with the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs—the site of the famous annual horse race—has been promoting the cocktail since 1938. It's a staple at most cocktail bars and whiskey bars, a refreshing drink that is traditionally made with bourbon, sugar and water, topped with crushed ice and mint. If you can't enjoy it at the Derby itself, try the next best place: on a rooftop bar, perhaps, or at one of the following fine establishments serving the best mint juleps in the city.
RECOMMENDED: Our guide to cocktails in Los Angeles
